VERA CRUZ -- Two 19th century "soldiers of fortune," one survivor of the Civil War with a "soft spot" for sick horses and social justice (Gary Cooper playing Ben Trane), the other a charming and money-greedy happy-trigger killer (Burt Lancaster at his grinning best, playing Joe Erin), search for their next dollar down in Mexico at a time when the country is torn between Emperor Maxmillian and the nationalist peasant army trying to overthrow him.
Since the Emperor got the most cash, our hired guns agree to serve the Emperor by escorting a certain Countess to the city of Vera Cruz by passing through territory under rebel control. On the way to Vera Cruz, both fighters discover 3 million dollars in gold coins (intended to buy guns for the Emperor from France) hidden at the bottom of the stagecoach carrying the Countess and she is not totally unaware of the fact either. She has her own plans too. All three plot against the other two to scoop the treasure away. Betrayal is not an issue. It's not even personal. It's just business.
After a few gunfight and ambush scenes between the Maxmillian's escorting army and the peasant rebels, justice reigns and Ben Trane emerges as the noble soul who triumphs over crass materialism despite the "soft spot" in his heart that Joe Erin took for weakness. He does not live long enough to correct his foolish ways.
This is the movie to see to learn how a bullet can be pulled out of the leading man's (Lancaster) arm by the other leading guy (Cooper) by using nothing more than a cold unsterilized pocket knife, while the wounded patient is leaning against a tree and the whole thing is accomplished within seconds too! As soon as the bullet is out, the patient is on his horse, giving one heck of a chase to the unfortunate perpetrator. They don't make hired guns this tough no more.
Cinematography of Ernest Laszlo is beyond compare. Most of the shots is worthy of a calendar page.
A beautifully shot movie in which Ernest Borgnine and a very young Charles Bronson also do their parts.
A 6 out of 10.
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